JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The Wofford women's basketball team left it all on the court Thursday night in Brooks Gymnasium, but the Terriers ultimately dropped a 63-57 decision late. Wofford falls to 16-10 (8-5 SoCon) as ETSU improves to 16-12 (7-6 SoCon).
 
The Buccaneers outshot the Terriers with a 41.2 percent clip (21-of-51) compared to Wofford's 32.7 percent mark (18-of-55). Both teams hit over 30 percent from three, but the Bucs collected three more, 11-8. The Terriers won the glass, 37-32, with a 13-8 offensive boards advantage. Turnovers were nearly even with Wofford committing 18 and forcing 16, but the Terriers held a 12-6 points off turnovers advantage.
 
Evangelia Paulk paced Wofford with 20 points and eight rebounds for her third 20-point game of the season. This is the ninth-straight game in which Paulk has reached double figures, tying for the ninth-longest streak in program history. She added two blocks and three steals, lifting her season total to 90 swipes. She is only the third Terrier to ever record 90-plus steals in a season, tying Libby Corry for second most in a campaign. Paulk is now seven shy of Liz Miller's record of 97 from the 2007-08 season.
 
Two others reached double-digit scoring as Maddie Heiss put forth 16 points alongside 13 from Molly Masingale. Masingale tallied 10 rebounds to match her career best, and it marked her second double-double of the season. She added a steal.
 
Libby Privett and Madi Hawk each scored three points, with Privett notching five rebounds and a career-high three steals.
 
Wofford won the jump and scored the first five points of the contest. First, Evangelia Paulk put home a put-back score, and Molly Masingale added a three almost a minute later. However, ETSU would secure the next six points to pull in front, but Masingale converted a pair of foul shots to flip the lead back in Wofford's favor. ETSU hit back-to-back threes, but Paulk's free throws trimmed the margin to 12-9 after a quarter of play.
 
Queen Ikhiuwu opened the second with a layup to bring Wofford within a point, and Masingale drilled a trey to push the Terriers in front 14-12. ETSU pulled level, and after the squads traded threes, Maddie Heiss delivered a jumper for the lead. After the teams traded scores, Heiss hit from distance to push the Terriers up by four, but a four-point swing for ETSU brought the Bucs level. Heiss hit a three late, but ETSU did the same near the buzzer to keep the score tied at 26-all entering the break.
 
ETSU opened the third with a 9-2 run, as despite Paulk's score the Bucs connected on a trio of threes. After Wofford free throws, the teams traded triples with Wofford's off the hot hand of Paulk. The teams continued to go bucket-for-bucket until the midpoint of the quarter when Heiss hit a free throw, and Paulk's ensuing layup brought Wofford within three. Wofford kept pushing, and Heiss delivered a three to give Wofford a 44-43 edge. ETSU converted two free throws to pull back in front, but Masingale did the same in the closing seconds to provide Wofford a 46-45 edge entering the final frame.
 
Much like the start of the third, ETSU got hot from three, hitting one to start the frame. After Heiss scored to bring Wofford level, the Bucs hit two more to spark a 10-point run. ETSU led 58-48 with 4:25 left, but Wofford did not quit and pushed back. Heiss scored a layup, and Privett followed with her own. Paulk hit a triple with 1:32 on the clock, pulling the Terriers within three, 58-55. The teams traded layups late, and with the clock dwindling Wofford began to foul. ETSU split a pair, and Wofford had a chance down four. However, Wofford's final chances were unable to connect as the Terriers ran out of time, falling 68-57.
 
Wofford hits the court again on Saturday, March 1, to conclude the regular season at Chattanooga. Tip-off is slated for 2:00 p.m. with the Terriers looking to end the campaign on a high note before the SoCon Tournament next weekend.